100 arrested in rare Russian protests

More than 100 people have been arrested in Russia after riot police clashed
with illegal demonstrators protesting against the economic crisis and rising
car tariffs.

By Miriam Elder

4:41PM GMT 21 Dec 2008

Demonstrations were held across Russia on Sunday to protest a forthcoming increase in import tariffs, in the strongest challenge yet to the government's handling of the financial crisis that is ravaging the country.

Riot police reportedly beat and detained at least 100 people during an unsanctioned protest in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok that turned violent.

The protests began in Vladivostok several weeks ago, and have since spread across Russia. People are unhappy with a government decision to raise tariffs on imported cars by as much as 50 per cent, in a move that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin argues would increase demand for Russian-made cars.

Protesters directly blamed Putin for the move, as well as the country's declining economic situation, in a rare challenge to a government that has worked hard to crush dissent.

In Moscow, several hundred people gathered in a square directly across from the Kremlin, carrying banners calling on Putin to withdraw the tax hike.

Russians tend to prefer foreign made cars, especially in the Far East, where Japanese imports are cheaper and better quality.

"I don't want to drive around in a Zhiguli, it's dangerous. I'd never drive my family around in one," said Yuriy, 40, at the Moscow protest.

"When times were good, they didn't use our oil money to develop industry, just to build yachts and villas," said Andrei, a 29-year-old metal worker at the Moscow rally. He, like many others, said it was his first time ever attending a protest.

Mr Putin built his popularity on years of stellar economic growth fuelled by high oil prices. The financial crisis hit Russia in September and in the past month, it has begun to see mass layoffs and a depreciating currency, fuelling social discontent.

Most protests in Russia are usually attended by pensioners, but Sunday's rallies were flooded with mainly young men.